Thursday, March 20, 2008

With increasing awareness and mounting interest for the AMI 3-6 course in 2009, one of the aims of MMEF this year is raising substantial funds to assist with student sponsorship.To this end we will be holding a Silent Auction at our stand at this year's MANZ Conference in Napier, April 19th - 22nd. This Conference is entitled 'Montessori - Personalised Learning in the 21st Century' and will be attended by an international delegation of nearly 200. For more information about the Conference visit the MANZ website at www.montessori.org.nzMMEF would like to acknowledge the many organisations that havegenerously donated some exquisite items for the auction:Matsumoto Kagaku Kogyo, Jungle Mama, ESOL Home Tutors- Wellington, Kiwi Impressions, School Supplies, Every Educaid, Nienhuis, Matakana Boutique Vineyard and Earthbaby Slings. Many more donors are yet to confirm, so, with appetites well wetted please bring along your cheque books, your generous spirits and a spare bag to take home your winning bids! If you are not able to attend the MANZ Conference you can still make a bid on one of the beautiful items.View the Silent Auction catalogue at www.mclean.net.nz/mmef/auction-catalogue.pdfand make your bid today!

Montessori Assistants Certificate Course AMI

We're delighted to report there has been a huge interest in the Assistants Certificate Courses starting in July! These courses - presented by Cheryl Ferreira AMI 3-6 trainer - have been offered in other International locations, but this is a first for New Zealand.

The seven day course is designed for:

ECE teachers working in Montessori Schools

Montessori school owners without a Montessori Diploma

parents

childcare professionals

and indeed anyone with a profound interest in child development

It will also help adults become more able assistants in a Montessori environment. It includes the philosophy needed to work effectively in this position and the basic practical skills of the classroom.

The Assistants Certificate Course is the perfect introduction for anyone wishing to study towards the AMI 3-6 Diploma in 2009.

Given the amount of content to be included in each course we will be limiting the number of attendees, therefore, send in your registration soon - remember the Early Bird Registration is until and including April 25th - spaces permitting!

There have been questions regarding the Obligatory Reading and Poetry Anthology. As part of the course you will start to assemble a collection of poems to introduce to children. Therefore, if you have any favourite children's poetry books, do bring them along! And regarding the obligatory readings - these will be referred to throughout the week, therefore it will be necessary to bring the books with you. We would suggest that you start to purchase your own copies soon. Scorpio Books in Christchurch are happy to give MMEF students a 10% discount on these books or you may try www.fishpond.com - the New Zealand on-line bookstore. All four books will be an ongoing source of inspiration now and in the future!

AMI Membership

On the subject of inspiring readings, we would like to bring your attention to the AMI journal Communications. This is host to a wonderful cornucopia of articles and international news, with an excellent Q&A section too!

Anyone can become an AMI member by visiting www.montessori_ami.org. For a payment of 40Euros each year you will receive the AMI journal 'Communications' two times a year and the AMI Bulletin three times a year. These publications include articles on Montessori, current information on the work of AMI and details of congresses and conferences throughout the world.

The most recent Communications is a must-read - full of insightful and practical articles on: Cosmic Education, The Spiritual Preparation of the Adult, Montessori Education in China (the last two taken from the Centenary Conference in China last year) and a fascinating article entitled 'The Essential is Invisible to the Eye' focusing on parents as observers of children.

And finally …for those of you traveling to Napier for the MANZ Conference, come and see us on the MMEF stand and peruse the silent auction items.

Otherwise visit our main website www.mmef.org.nz to download your application form for either the Assistants Certificate Course or the 3-6 course in 2009. To subscribe to ‘MMEF News’ – a complimentary MMEF newsletter- please email us at mmef@ihug.co.nz.

Maria Montessori Education Foundation

The Maria Montessori Education Foundation (MMEF) is a charitable trust in New Zealand established to set up and promote AMI Montessori training in New Zealand. Integral to this also will be to support the participation in the AMI Training of Trainers programme by AMI Diploma holders in New Zealand.